Reviving a R15 Million Bedfordview Home with Smart Engineering; Not Demolition

Recently, we were called to a beautiful home in Bedfordview, a property valued at approximately R15 million, built around 20 years ago.

Like many high-end homes of that era, it featured what was then considered cutting-edge automation. At the time of installation, the Secant / Mosaica system was advanced technology:

• Most lighting circuits were dimmable

• Lights could be controlled from touchscreens

• Motion-triggered and time-based lighting was installed

• Alarm integration was included

It was impressive for its time.

But fast forward 20 years… and the system had become a liability.

The Problem: When “Cutting Edge” Becomes Unsupported

The homeowner was experiencing multiple failures:

• Wall switches no longer turning lights on or off

• Motion and time-triggered lighting not functioning

• The alarm system could not be armed

• Blown dimmers leaving lights permanently unusable

The biggest challenge?The system was no longer supported by any supplier or installer.

And here’s where it became technically complex.

This was not a traditional bus-based system (where communication cables run through each switch), nor was it conventionally wired. That meant:

• Modern plug-and-play automation systems wouldn’t work

• Standard lighting control upgrades were not compatible

• Rewiring would mean major wall damage and high cost

The homeowner had already received quotations of around R350,000 from other installers, yet none could guarantee a fully functioning solution.

Our Approach: Intelligent Engineering, Not Destruction

At Intelligent Home Systems, we’ve been solving challenges like this since 2000. Instead of proposing demolition and complete rewiring, we engineered a custom solution around the home’s existing infrastructure.

What We Did:

• Retained the original custom bell-press wall switches

• Designed a uniquely engineered interface solution

• Integrated a modern, locally supported automation platform

• Enabled full mobile control and remote access

• Revived lighting control including dimming and scheduling

Most importantly, we did not have to cut into walls to replace switch plates or install new touchscreen units.

The result?

A fully functional, modernised smart home system, installed for R160,000.

Less than half of the previous quotations.

Why This Matters for Luxury Homeowners

Many South African homes built between 2000–2010 are facing similar issues:

• Unsupported legacy systems

• Obsolete dimmer modules

• Failing touchscreens

• No local technical support

Replacing everything is not always the smartest option.

With the right technical expertise, it’s often possible to:

• Preserve architectural finishes

• Avoid invasive construction

• Reduce costs significantly

• Upgrade to modern mobile-controlled systems

• Future-proof the installation with locally supported technology

The Key Lesson

Technology evolves, but infrastructure doesn’t always need to be ripped out to keep up.

Smart engineering can often outperform expensive demolition.

If you’re living in a luxury home with an aging automation system that’s starting to fail, the solution may not be a R350,000 replacement. It may simply require the right team.

Need Help With an Older Automation System?

At Intelligent Home Systems, we’ve been modernising and engineering smart home solutions across South Africa since 2000.

If your lighting, alarm, or automation system is no longer working as it should, request a call back and let’s explore your options.